GB2191685A

GB2191685A - Television stand

Info

Publication number: GB2191685A
Application number: GB8615205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert L Smallwood
Original assignee: ACRE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ACRE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-21
Filing date: 1986-06-21
Publication date: 1987-12-23
Also published as: GB8615205D0

Abstract

A television stand 10 comprises a frame-work with base members 16 having one or more slots 30 in which are located brackets 20. The brackets have locating projections 26 at their proximal ends 24 for locating into corresponding holes or depressions (32) in the bases of members 16. The brackets 20 carry castors 28 at or near their distal ends. A lower platform 18 of the stand may be secured to the brackets by screws passing through holes 34. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stand This invention relates to a stand, such as a television stand, and in particular relates to an improved form of castor bracket for use with such a stand.

Television stands normally comprise a framework with a top portion for receiving a television and are provided with castors for ease of movement. The castors are generally mounted directly on the bottom of the frame-work in a manner known per se.

With the advent of new styles of television, new styles of television stands have been designed, in particular one kind in which the framework between the top portion supporting the television and the base carrying the castors is reduced in size as much as possible for aesthetic reasons. In order to give the stand necessary stability, it is desirable to fit the castors as far apart as possible. One way of doing this would be to place cross bars across the framework members at the base thereof and fit the castors to the extremity of the cross bars. However, this is both relatively expensive and increases the height of the base to an aesthetically undesirable degree.

The invention seeks to provide a form of castor mounting bracket which reduces or overcomes the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a television stand comprising a frame work with base members, the base members having one or more slots therein through which are located brackets, the brackets having a locating projection at their proximal ends for locating into a corresponding hole or depression in the members and the brackets carrying at or near their distal ends castors.

The base members will normally be rectangular hollow section metallic tubes, e.g. mild steel, having rectangular slots in their outwardly facing side faces through which the brackets can be inserted. In order to locate the brackets and secure them against lateral movement holes are provided adjacent to the slots which co-operate with the projections on the proximal ends of the brackets. Preferably the holes are in the bottom faces of the base members so that the weight of the stand acting through the castor on to the distal end of the bracket forces the proximal end downwardly and therefore holds the projection firmly into its corresponding hole. This not only locks the bracket firmly in place in the weight supporting direction, but enables the bracket to withstand the lateral forces involved when the stand carrying a heavy television set is manoeuvred around.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stand constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a bracket; Figure 3 is a side view of the bracket; Figure 4 is an end view of the bracket in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of a base member; and Figure 6 is a plan view from below of the base member.

Referring to the drawings, a television stand generally designated 10 comprises a frame 12 carrying a platform 14 for receiving a television and including integral base members 16. A lower platform 18 fits over the base members 16 and may be used to support an accessory, for example a video cassette recorder.

The spacing of the two main frame members 12 is such that, if castors were fitted directly to the base members 16, the stability of the stand would be insufficient. Accordingly, a wider "wheel-base" is obtained by the use of brackets of the invention generally designated 20.

The brackets, shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4, comprise a generally flat main body portion 22 and a turndown portion 24 at their proximal ends. A projection 26 is formed on the proximal end 24.

Near the distal end, on the main body 22, a castor spindle 28 is affixed, e.g. by welding. The base members 16 each have a pair of rectangularslots 30 therein of a size sufficient to receive the brackets 20 which are threaded therein proximal end first. Holes 32 are punched in the base of the base members 16 to receive the projection 26 when the bracket 20 is fully inserted into place. Two holes 32 are provided for convenience so that a given base member 16 to facilitate the non-handing of punch holes during production.

Screw holes 34 are provided near the distal ends of the brackets 20 which, when the brackets are in place, allows screws to be passed through to engage the lower platform 18 and secure the assembly and in particular retain the base members 16 parallel to each other.

Thus, in assembling the device, each of the brackets 20 is inserted in its respective slot 30 and manipulated until the projection 26 locates in its respective hole 32. The lower platform 18 may be placed over the base members and brackets 20 after which screws may be passed through the holes 34 in the brackets 20 and affixed to the underside of the lower platform 18 completing the assembly.

The weight of the stand and television acts through the castors onto the brackets 20 tending to secure each projection 26 more firmly in its respective hole 32. The gripping of the projection 26 by the hole 32 together with the gripping of the main body of the bracket 20 by the slot 30 (which should be only just sufficiently wide to admit the bracket 20) holds the assembly rigid and allows the lateral forces involved in pushing a loaded stand about a floor to be coped with without movement of the bracket in the base.

A further advantage of the stand of the invention is that by bending the bracket 20 at B and C (Figure 3) the height of the main body portion 22 can be raised above the height of the slot 30 and indeed is normally arranged to be level with the height of the top of the members 16. This means that the castors project only as much below the base members 16 as is needed to support the stand and the lower platform 18 can be at the minimum possible height which is aesthetically desirable. Were the castors fixed to the base of the base members 16 in the conventional manner, the height of the lower platform 18 above the ground would be more than doubled.

The stand and brackets of the invention provide a simple inexpensive solution to the problem of aesthetically desirable narrow and low stands while giving the necessary stability. Furthermore the brackets are easily assembled and disassembled facilitating the packing of a stand in accordance with the invention in a flat box ("flat-pack"), whereas if welding were employed packaging would be considerably larger and transport costs would be higher.

Claims

1.'A A television stand which comprises a frame- work with base members, the base members having one or more slots therein through which are located brackets, the brackets having a locating projection at their proximal ends for locating into a corresponding hole or depression in the members and the brackets being adapted to carry castors at or near their distal ends.

2. A stand as claimed in claim one in which the base members are rectangular hollow section metallic tubes.

3. A stand as claimed in claim two in which rectangular slots are provided in the outwardly facing side faces through which the brackets are to be inserted.

4. A stand as claimed in claim three in which holes are provided in the bottom faces of the base members adjacent the slots to co-operate with the projections on the proximal ends of the brackets.

5. A stand as claimed in claim 4 in which two holes are provided so that a given base member may be used as a righthanded or a lefthanded member.

6. A stand as claimed in any of claims one to five in which screw holes are provided near the distal ends of the brackets enabling them to be secured to a lower platform of the stand whereby to secure the assembly and retain the base members parallel to one another.

7. A television stand substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.